He couldn’t run.

He absolutely couldn’t run.

She looked like a frail little girl, but she had the strength of a hundred men. Grabbing him by the coat, she lifted him as easily as if he were a kitten, then turned and set him down beside Su Tong.

Then, as always, she reported to her mistress in that sweet, meek voice that made you want to protect her:

“Nia’s caught him, miss.”

Su Tong nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Stuff him in the car. Let’s go.”

Su Tong could only stare in utter confusion the whole time.

The boy couldn’t wrap his head around how the seemingly delicate little maid could have such terrifying strength. Even he, the self-proclaimed Little Prince of Long-Distance Running, had been completely overwhelmed.

So, still dazed, he naturally surrendered without a fight. The little maid dragged him along by sheer force all the way to the parking lot in the outer district of the shopping street. Only then did Nia finally pant twice, more for show than anything else.

Was she tired?

Su Tong wondered numbly.

So even nonhumans weren’t so far beyond human understanding after all. Even a super-strong little girl could get worn out…

Then his body lifted off the ground, and he was forcibly stuffed into the back seat of the car in front of them like a bag of trash.

After finishing the job, the little maid Nia dusted off her hands, looking relieved.

“Phew! Sir, you really should lose some weight. You’re quite heavy to lift now!”

She said it was hard work, but the little maid had dragged him all the way here from two streets away without ever turning red or even getting out of breath. At most, she’d panted for a little while, and she quickly got herself under control.

So was she really human?

Su Tong began questioning his whole understanding of life again.

Whether or not he was questioning his existence, Su Tong had already climbed into the passenger seat and fastened his seat belt. She glanced at the boy in the rearview mirror and laughed.

“Nia’s Russian. Lao Su says she was raised from childhood by some kind of secret unit and trained as an elite spy. It took him a lot of effort to find her, so don’t underestimate her just because of how she looks… Sometimes appearances are only a disguise.”

“…Really?”

Su Tong instinctively looked at the silver-haired little maid in the driver’s seat.

She still looked sweet and adorable.

But Nia suddenly turned to look at him in the rearview mirror, biting her lip shyly.

“Master, you shouldn’t tell outsiders so much. My little sister says people who know too much have to die. Should I… should I take him out?”

Her voice was still flustered and nervous.

But her words sent a chill down his spine.

“Relax,” the girl in the passenger seat reassured her. “There’s no need for that.”

Then she explained to the boy through the rearview mirror:

“Su Tong, don’t get the wrong idea. Nia’s just joking with you. She absolutely doesn’t want to kill you… Right, Nia?”

“Y-yes, Master.”

The little maid still sounded as pitiful as ever.

…Yeah, like hell anyone believed that!

Su Tong went rigid.

He wasn’t stupid.

Ever since his father died, he’d gradually become more and more alone. You’d think that would make him less perceptive, but instead his senses had sharpened. He could easily pick up on what other people were thinking.

Just like a moment ago.

At least when the little maid said she’d take him out, she’d looked absolutely serious!

I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead!

He regretted more and more that he’d agreed to go shopping with the girl!

◆

The little maid drove fast.

She barreled through traffic, squeezing into every gap. A long string of angry honks—and even a few curses—followed in the car’s wake before it disappeared into the distance.

Getting up to over fifty in the city, constantly pushing right up to the speed limit, was a remarkable feat in its own way.

Su Tong spent the whole ride in terror. It nearly killed him.

He didn’t start trembling until he got out. The instant his feet touched solid ground, tears nearly sprang to his eyes, and his legs almost gave out beneath him.

I’m alive… Thank goodness!

Su Tong, on the other hand, was perfectly calm. After getting out, she patted the boy on the shoulder.

“Stop having an existential crisis. Come on, we’re getting your hair cut.”

Then she snapped her fingers.

The little maid understood at once. She grabbed the hem of the boy’s coat and escorted him after Su Tong like a prisoner being marched away.

And so, the three of them marched into the studio before them.

The moment they stepped inside, a sharp-eyed staff member hurried over and greeted them respectfully.

“Miss Su, what brings you here?”

Su Tong pulled the black-and-gold card from her bag—the one she’d barely used since getting it—and casually handed it to the staff member.

“I’m not here to get my hair done this time… I brought a friend in.”

The Su family had a contract with the studio, hiring its top stylist as their personal hairdresser. He came to their home every other day, so naturally she’d hardly ever been here. She’d only gotten the studio’s address from Lao Su.

“Is Tony here?”

she asked.

At the name, Su Tong’s eyelid twitched.

A bad feeling suddenly came over him.

“Yes, yes, he is.”

The staff member nodded hurriedly. “The studio’s quiet today, and Tony’s here taking a break… Shall I take you to him?”

“Sure.”

The group grew from three to four as they made their way through the enormous studio. Before long, they reached a tightly shut door.

The staff member stepped forward cautiously and knocked.

“Tony… are you in there?”

A warm, deep male voice immediately came from inside.

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Well,” the staff member explained, “Miss Su Tong is here with a friend. They’d like you to do his hair.”

“Oh?”

The deep voice instantly took on a hint of surprise and delight.

“Miss Su? What a pleasant surprise. The door’s unlocked… Actually, I’ll open it myself.”

Then the door swung open.

The first thing that caught their eye was a flash of silver—no, not a flash of silver, but a brilliant head of silver hair, neatly combed and immaculate.

Tony didn’t seem young.

Fine crow’s-feet lined the corners of his eyes, and wrinkles creased his face. They weren’t especially pronounced, but they held the marks of years and hardship. His expression, however, remained steely.

Like steel.

The old man was no longer young, but he’d never once admitted defeat.

His back was ramrod straight, and a faintly mocking smile always seemed to linger at the corners of his mouth. From beginning to end, he looked as if he were enjoying a good laugh,

like a flame.

Su Tong stared blankly at Tony, but a thought rose unbidden in his heart.

What a top-tier old man—a steel-and-fire kind of old man.

The old man lowered his head and studied Su Tong for a moment before nodding.

“Miss Su is as beautiful as ever—a lovely young woman like a flower. You make this old man feel positively inadequate.”

“Not necessarily.”

The girl replied with a bright smile.

“You’re the one who’s still going strong, Tony. Every time I see you, you take my breath away.”

The old man smiled warmly.

“I’ll take your word for it, Miss Su. Let’s hope this old man has another decade or two in him. But you didn’t come all this way just to make me feel good, did you?”

He suddenly changed the subject.

The girl pointed to the boy beside her.

“That’s right. I came to ask you to design a hairstyle for him, Tony.”

The old man turned and fixed his gaze on the boy.

Su Tong.

In danger.

[To be continued]